Rimer Starts 2-hour Radio Show

MICHAEL RUSSO On the NHL

December 6, 1998|MICHAEL RUSSO On the NHL

Jeff Rimer's hockey playing ended with a tap on the shoulder.

It was 30 years ago when the now-Panthers television play-by-play voice had aspirations of being an NHL star. So one autumn day, he and a friend went down to the Rose Kahn Arena to try out for the Triple-A Buffaloes, a midget team on Calgary's southwest side.

For 20 spots on the roster, 250 kids showed up. Rimer knew he was in trouble when he was assigned a bib in the 200s.

Anyway, as Rimer skated around during warmups, the coach skated over, extended his arm and cut him with a tap on the shoulder.

In the background, the only thing Rimer could see, well, more like hear, was that buddy he showed up with, John Davidson, laughing.

Davidson went on to a 10-year career playing goal for the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers.

Rimer went on to an illustrious broadcasting career in Montreal, Baltimore, Washington and South Florida.

``I saw him skate when he was about 16 years old in Calgary, and I knew right then and there that he better get into broadcasting,'' said Davidson, the hockey analyst for Fox and MSG, the Rangers' television network.

Decades after that tap on the shoulder, the two personalities have teamed up in an endeavor that could become the most informative and entertaining hockey radio talk show.

Tonight, in more than 100 radio markets throughout the United States and Canada, Rimer and Davidson will co-host the debut show of Inside the NHL, a two-hour weekly magazine talk show.

The show, owned in part by Rimer and Five Star Productions and syndicated by Sports Fan Radio Network, will air live every Sunday night for 29 weeks from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. (Eastern Time). Locally, the Panthers' flagship station, WQAM (560-AM), has picked it up, joined tonight in progress because of Sunday Night Football.

``John and I have always talked about doing something together ever since we both have been in broadcasting,'' Rimer said. ``I've been thinking about this show for about three or four years, but a little more aggressively over the last year.''

Rimer had approached Scott Woolley, the owner of Five Star Productions, a television and radio production company based in Delray Beach. Woolley liked the idea, and the two began developing the show.

The show will delve deeply into NHL news, issues and hot topics. They'll have interviews with the newsmakers, whether it be league officials, managers, coaches or players. They'll talk with the people who get the scoops, such as other broadcasters and top hockey writers.

``We'll have regular segments, like `Where are they now?' '' Davidson said. ``What is Guy Lafleur doing, where's Mike Bossy or Lanny McDonald or Vic Hadfield? We'll have them on. We'll talk to the coaches, we'll talk to the stars.''

Adds Rimer, ``This will not be a one-sided show. We're going to tackle the controversial topics and report all the issues. We're going to give listeners an inside look into the NHL, discuss it with them in a call-in format. Where else will hockey fans be able to talk to their favorite players or the key people involved in issues?''

Tonight's guests:

* Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell. He'll discuss the rising number of suspensions. Through Saturday night, 324 games have been played. Eighteen players have been suspended for 64 games. In 324 games last season, four players were suspended for 10 games.

* Vancouver General Manager Brian Burke. No story is bigger than where Burke is going to trade Canucks holdout Pavel Bure.

* New York Islanders coach and General Manager Mike Milbury: The second-biggest story is what Milbury is going to do with star holdout Ziggy Palffy.

* Philadelphia Flyers forward John LeClair. Is anyone hotter than the NHL's leading goal-scorer (18)? He has scored 50 or more in each of the past three seasons.

* Hall of Famer Denis Potvin. One of the NHL's greatest defensemen, he won four Stanley Cups with the Islanders and always has interesting opinions on today's NHL.

Listeners can call toll-free Sunday nights at 1-877-NHL-LIVE or check out their website anytime at www.NHLLIVE.com.

``It's something that is going to be good for the sport,'' Davidson said. ``We'll be well informed and we'll have some fun with it. Jeff and I have the passion for the sport, and I hope that will come across over the radio waves.'' ``This is a show that has been needed for quite some time,'' Edmonton GM Glen Sather said.

And it wouldn't even exist if that coach had not tapped Rimer on the shoulder.

No accounting for taste

Anaheim's Teemu Selanne is always in search of ways to enjoy himself. On Wednesday it was a trip to the taping of the Jerry Springer Show with rookie teammates Mike Crowley, Antti Aalto and Johan Davidsson.

``Twelve guys wanted to go, but I only had four tickets,'' Selanne said.

Selanne managed front-row seats for the foursome, and that turned out to be a dangerous spot. The show they watched was based around three tables set for Thanksgiving.